longbow

[ lawng-boh, long- ]

/ ˈlɔŋˌboʊ, ˈlɒŋ- /

a large bow drawn by hand, as that used by English archers from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

draw the longbow, to exaggerate in telling stories; overstate something: He's sure to draw the longbow on the size of his catch of fish.

Origin of longbow

First recorded in 1490–1500; long¹ + bow²

The "Colonel," Longbow, and the other Puddlefordians were ranged round the fire.

The Puddleford Papers, |H. H. Riley
The husbands of these ladies thought just about as much of Longbow & Co. as their wives did.

The Puddleford Papers, |H. H. Riley
Swipes said he know'd you must be sick, but I told Swipes you had so many cares—we women folks have so many cares, Mrs. Longbow.

The Puddleford Papers, |H. H. Riley
Flights of arrows from the dreaded English longbow added immeasurably to their distress and bewilderment.

In the Days of Chivalry |Evelyn Everett-Green

The crossbow and the matchlock had supplanted the longbow when Columbus sailed for the New World.

Hunting with the Bow and Arrow |Saxton Pope

longbow

/ (ˈlɒŋˌbəʊ) /

a large powerful hand-drawn bow, esp as used in medieval England